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. 2009 May 21:1.
doi: 10.3402/jom.v1i0.1946.

Bacterial diversity in persistent periapical lesions on root-filled teeth

Trude Handal  1 , Dominique A Caugant, Ingar Olsen, Pia T Sunde
Affiliations

Bacterial diversity in persistent periapical lesions on root-filled teeth

Trude Handal et al. J Oral Microbiol. .

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the bacterial diversity in persistent apical lesions on root-filled teeth by using culture-independent molecular methods.

Design: Twenty surgically removed apical lesions from therapy-resistant teeth were examined for the presence of bacterial DNA using PCR targeting the 16s ribosomal RNA gene, followed by cloning and sequencing.

Results: Bacterial DNA was detected in 17 of the 20 samples (85%). A total of 236 clones were analyzed. Seven different bacterial phyla were represented and a total of 75 different bacterial taxa were identified; 36% of the species have not yet been cultivated. Commonly detected bacterial species included Fusobacterium spp., Prevotella spp., Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Treponema denticola, Bacteroidetes spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp.

Conclusions: A wide range of bacteria was identified in periapical lesions on therapy-resistant teeth. These bacteria may contribute in the etiology of periapical infection and impede healing of these lesions.

Keywords: 16s ribosomal RNA; bacterial phyla; endodontic infection; sequencing; therapy-resistant teeth.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Apical surgery with a submarginal incision to avoid contamination of the surgical area.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Phylogenetic tree of bacterial phylotypes detected in persistent periapical lesions. The marker bar represents a 5% difference in nucleotide sequences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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